Means for dispensing sheet material



Aprifl 19, 1966 R. F. DOYLE MEANS FOR DISPENSING SHEET MATERIAL 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 18, 1963 INVENTOR. RAYMOND E DOV/.5

ATTORNEY April 19, 19% R. F. DOYLE 39 MEANS FOR DISPENSING SHE ETMATERIAL Filed Jan. 18, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VENTE l RAYMOND E 0on5A TTO/P/VEV Apm'lfi H, 1966 R. F. DOYLE MEANS FOR DISPENSING SHEETMATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 18, 1963 INVENTOR. RAYMOND F DOYLEBY a... gq hJ.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,246,741 MEANS FOR DISPENSING SHEETMATERIAL Raymond F. Doyle, San Francisco, Calif, assignor of onehalf toC. Dudley De Velbiss, San Francisco, Calif. Filed Jan. 18, 1963, Ser.No. 252,445 4 Claims. (Cl. 206-57) The present invention is directed tothe manual dispensing of sheet material one sheet at a time, and isparticularly desirable for extending the usefulness of present originalcontainers wherein the sheet material is packaged with verticalstacking.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means to accompanythe present packages of sheet material either as a part thereof or inconjunction therewith, which will establish and maintain the fannedcontents so that the sheet material may be dispensed easily and quicklyone sheet at a time.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a fanninginsert which is useful in maintaining the fanned disposition of thesheet material within the container whether or not the sheet material isexposed or maintained light-free within a light excluding envelope.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a weightedmeans in connection with envelopes containing sheet material so that theenvelope can be closed simply by flipping the weighted means upward andback- Ward over the top of the sheet material contained therein with theclosure being maintained by gravity and the weight of the said closingmeans.

It is another object of the invention to convert the several kinds andtypes of packages for sheet material to an inexpensive and effectivedispenser for dispensing the contents one sheet at a time.

Another object is to provide a means for maintaining the sheet contentsof a carton in fanned position so that it is possible to select thecontents one sheet at a time, whether or not the sheets are contained ina protective envelope.

Still another object is to provide a means for maintaining the fannedarrangement of sheets within the sales carton, which can be movedforward as the sheet material is moved so as to keep the relativeposition of the next available sheet substantially uniform.

A further object is to provide a fanning retaining and dispensing meansfor sheet material which permits the use of less costly packaging, as upuntil the present, the expensive hinge cover, drop front, set-up box hasbeen deemed to be the only satisfactory container.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity,economy and ease of assembly and disassembly, also such further objects,advantages and capabilities as will fully appear and as are inherentlypossessed by the device and invention described herein.

The invention further resides in the combination, construction andarrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and whilethere is shown therein a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to beunderstood that the same is capable of modification and change andcomprehends other details of construction without departing from thespirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a hinge cover, drop front set-up box,with the hinged cover raised and partly broken away at the rear portionto show the fan insert dispensing means;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line IIII of FIGURE 1,showing additionally an envelope containing sheet material in the fannedposition with the envelope closed by weighted means; 1

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the fan insert disice pensing meansshown in FIGURE 1 but removed from the box and on a smaller scale;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective View of the inner envelopecontaining sheet material ready for distribution, showing the weightedmeans attached to the edge on one side of the envelope mouth;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective showing the envelope closed whilethe paper within the same remains completely covered and protected inthe fanned disposition;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a reverse tuck end carton having theconventional tuck-in flap closing means, partly broken away to show thefan insert dispensing means in position for use;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical section taken on the line VII-VII of FIGURE 6 butshowing additionally the sheet paper in fanned position within anenvelope and within its dispensing container, with the weighted envelopeedge in the open position to hold the tuck-in flap out of the way so asnot to obstruct easy access;

FIGURE 8 is :a perspective view of a container shown in FIGURE 6 butwith the tuck-in flap in closed position, the fan insert dispensingmeans being shown in the suggested packaged position;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of an open end, glued sleeve container,showing the fan insert dispensing means, which is packaged along withthe sheet material contents (not shown), folded to the operativeposition;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 9 but with the faninsert dispensing means in the forward operative position; and FIGURE 11is a longitudinal vertical section of a box illustrating a form of thefan dispensing means made as a part of the box.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like referencenumerals indicate like parts in the several views, there is shown inFIGURE 1 a container 10 which is referred to in the trade as a hingecover, drop front, set-up box, has a top 11, side walls 12 defining theheight of the box, and a rear end wall 14 and a front end wall 15.Spaced from the front end wall 15 the side walls 12 are cut up to thejuncture with the top 11 as at 16. The top 11 is scored along the line17 connecting the upper limits of the cuts 16 so that the front endwall, the front portion of the side walls and the front portion of thetop, collectively termed the cover, is folded back as a unit 23 as shownin FIGURE 1, to provide access to the merchandise on the interior. Sincethis is a unitized tray type box it is provided with an inner conformingtray having a bottom 13, side walls 20 and a front end wall 21 and ifdesired can have a rear end wall 22, although this is not essential. Thefront end wall 21 folds upwardly to meet the vertical position of theside walls 20 although it is not joined to the same and forms a dropfront. When it is folded up in the vertical position so that itsextremities meet the butt ends of the side walls 20, a tray is formed sothat the closure portion 23 of the top when lowered into its closedposition will overlap and form a continuous box-like structure. Suchboxes are usually wrapped with a skin of paper or the like, to make itan integral unit which is accessible at the front and are well-known inthe art. They are used particularly for dispensing sheet material fromthe commercial package or container. While this is a comparativelyexpensive package nevertheless it is widely used for packaging of lightsensitive sheets, such as photocopy paper, because of its relativelyeasy accessibility to the vertically stacked sheets.

In accordance with the present invention a fanning insert 25 is suppliedwith the commercial container and has an end piece 26 folded or hingedback at 30 upon its upper surface and is of such a size that the foldedfiat portion 26 when inserted within the box has its exposed edge 27 inengagement with the under surface of the top 11 to form an angle at 28of substantially 15. From the fold 30 to its forward edge 31 thedistance equals the interior length of the carbon .plus the distance ofthe folded down end flap or drop front 21. The insert 25 may be of anysuitable material, such as paperboard, pressboard, plastic or any othersuitable material which will retain its shape and function as hereindescribed.

As noted above, such boxes are used as a combination commercialcontainer and dispenser of various types of paper, includingphotosensitive paper. The paper contents are stacked vertically and areusually contained in a light excluding envelope, from which the paper isselected one sheet at a time. In order to dispense the contents onesheet at a time using the fan insert dispensing means 25, the contentsare removed and fanned longitudinally so that the sheets assume theposition shown by the sheets 32 illustrated in FIGURE 2 with the sheetsangled downwardly and inwardly from the top in stepped relation. Thefanned sheets are then placed on the fan retaining insert 25. The flap26 is folded over so that the fanned edges of the paper engage the undersurface of the flap 26. The fan retaining insert 25 with its overlyingpaper supply 32 is then returned to the container flap 26 first, andthen pushed to the rear thereof so that the flap 26 is maintained in theposition shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 with the paper contents assuming thefanned angle maintained by the flap 26. It will be observed that when inthis position the fan retaining insert will extend far enough forward ofthe butt ends of the sides to hold the front flap or drop front 21 in aplane approximately that of the bottom and prevent any tendency to havethe drop front return to its closed positon or any other position thanfiat. It will be observed that when the sheets are returned to the boxin fanned condition on the fan insert 25, the sheets will project fromthe box in stepped relation making access to the sheets one at a timeassured no matter when selected. Thus, the package in which the sheetsare purchased is converted into a highly efiicient dispenser.

Frequently when the contents are being dispensed, the hinged cover 23tends to fall downwardly toward the closed position, particularly as theopening and closing continues during use and weakens the fold. But forwhatever reason, it tends to get in the way of speedy access to theavailable top sheet. In order to overcome this problem, two tabs 33 aresecured to or made integral with the fan insert dispensing means 25 sothat in the closed position they are folded inwardly from thelongitudinal edges and lie fiat against the upper face of the member 25(see FIGURE 3). The tabs 33 are spaced a sufficient distance from thefront edge 31 of the member 25, so that when they are moved in a 90 arcto a position substantially perpendicular to the surface of fanninginsert 25 they will engage the inside side portions of the hinged cover23. Preferably they are long enough to abut the inside of the end 15. Inthis manner all movable portions of the dispensing container arepositively maintained in proper position and out of the way of anyinterference with fast access to the contents of the container. Thecontents of the container will hold the tabs in upright position untilthe last sheet, or until they are physically returned to the foldedposition. It is apparent that only one tab 33 will do the holding jobquite satisfactorily although not as positively.

The fanning insert 25 may be sold as part of the dispenser or separatelyas an adjunct to the dispenser. It may also be packaged on the inside orthe outside of the container. Where it is packaged on the inside it maybe preferable to make it the same size as the sheet to be dispensed, inwhich event the tabs 33 could be eliminated.

In the operative position the folding back of the portion 26 wouldreduce the length along the bottom so there could not be sufficientlength to hold down the drop front. The insert 25 is primarily usefulonly as a part of the dispenser because of dimensions, sizes of sheets,depth of container, and the like, and care should be taken that theappropriate operating dimensions are compatible and maintained.

Dispensing containers of this kind and type, as well as other types, areused extensively for the packaging of light or photosensitive paperuseful in connection with photography and various system of copyingequipment. Because of the light sensitivity the sheets 32 must beprotected as far as possible from inadverent or constant exposure to anydegree of light and so the sheets 32 are usually contained within alight-proof envelope 34. Such envelopes are made to completely encompassthe sheet material and are relatively flat having an open mouth 35extending the full width of the sheet with lips 36 and 37 at the top andbottom as viewed in FIGURE 4 or at either side respectively. In manyinstances the light-proof envelopes are made with the lower lip 37staggered and much longer than lip 36. The bag is substantially longerthan the length of the sheets 32 so as to form a considerable foldoverportion and to provide access to the sheets without unnecessaryexposure. This provides a sufficient distance so that in the selectionof a sheet there is no great risk of inadvertently exposing the othersheets to light. Since there is a sufficient foldover portion, nodifficulty is experienced in fanning the sheets within the envelope inthe same manner that the sheets are fanned without the envelope.

When the container is opened, the contents fanned and replaced in thecontainer ready for dispensing, there is a sufiicient foldover portionso that the top lip 36 will extend downwardly by gravity along with thelower lip 37 to prevent light exposure during use. However, this issubject to dislodgement and improper folding between uses. Withreference to FIGURE 4, there is shown a weighted portion 40 which issecured to the edge of the lower or extended lip 37 of the envelope 34.The weighted portion 40 holds the lower lip downward and makes it easierto separate from the upper lip 36. This is true whether it hangsdownwardly by gravity as shown in FIGURE 4, or whether it restshorizontally on a table or desk. In addition, as the upper lip 36 israised to select the top of the fanned sheets one at a time, it willprovide suflicient weight to bring the lips back into the position shownin FIGURE 4 and exclude light quicker than any voluntary action.Furthermore, at the conclusion'of the use, all that is necessary to doto effectively close the envelope is to grasp the weight 40 and fold itup and over against the top front edge of the paper 32. Such action willat the same time fold the top lip 36 back against itself in the mannershown in FIGURE 2. The weight 49 then holds the envelope in closedposition by gravity against the top of the envelope as shown in FIG-URES 2 and 5, without any conscious act of folding or great care. Thisis shown in an enlarged scale more fully in FIGURE 5. All this can bedone without the necessity of re-establishing the vertical 7 stackedpaper within the container and permitsthe safe 'holding of the papersheets between uses, in the fanned disposition.

In FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, the container 41 is a-simpler type ofconventional reverse tuck end carton having a top 42, a bottom 43, sidewalls 44 and-tuck-in end flaps generally designated 45. In this type ofcontainer the carton is all one piece and like the others, is made toaccommodate the size and number of sheets in' the package. The foldedconstruction of this carton lacks some of the rigidity of the set-up boxreferred to above, and

up to this time has lacked the quality package indicia.-

Assuming, for example, that the sheets to be packaged are 8 /2 x 11"sheets, the fanning retaining insert 46 is made to the precisedimensions of the sheet so that it.

can be packaged inside of the container and along with the sheetsthemselves. This is shown in FIGURE 8. The fanning insert 46 is scoredor hinged as before described at 47 leaving a tab 48 which is bent backupon itself. The tab 48 is sutficient in length so that the exposed edge50 will engage the interior surface of the top 42 to form an angle 51 ofsubstantially 15. In this manner the fanning insert 46 supplies rigidityto the package which otherwise it would not have. This rigidity issubstantially comparable to that of the set-up box. It is apparent thatwhen the paper 32 is taken out of the package for the purpose offanning, whether contained in an envelope or not, placed upon thefanning holding insert 46 and returned within the container in thefanned condition, that the fanning insert 46 will end a distanceapproximating the length of the tab from the front portion of thecarton. This, instead of being a disadvantage is an advantage. Itfacilitates reaching the top sheets when the package is full and as thesheets are used the insert may be moved forward in the carton as thesheets are moved so that the leading edge is in approximately the sameposition at all times. It also provides sufficient space at the top forreturning the weight 40 to a closed position which is always below theplane of the top 42.

Where the envelope 34 is used, as shown in FIGURE 7, it may or may notbe used with the weight 40 on the lower lip as is the case of thepackages shown in FIG- URES l to 5 inclusive. When the weight 40 isused, then this weight is sufficient, when the envelope 34 is open, tohold down the tuck-in tab so that it does not tend to go toward theclosed position and interfere with the access to the sheets. The priceof this container is obviously a great deal less than the set-up box.

In FIGURE 9, there is still another form of standard container shownwhich is called an open ends, paperboard glued sleeve container. This ismerely a rectangular tube having a top 52, a bottom 53 and two sidepanels 54 (see FIGURE 9). It has no closure at the ends which remainopen at all times. In addition to the paper 32 which is not shown, andwhich can either be with or without an envelope 34, there is a fanninginsert 46 precisely like that shown and described with respect toFIGURES 6, 7 and 8. The use of the packaging container shown in FIGURE 9is the same as that described in connection with FIGURES 6, 7 and 8except that since the container has no end closures it is easier to moveor push the fanning insert forward as the paper is used (see FIGURE Ifthe envelope is used it can either be used with or without the weight 40in exactly the same manner as described for the other forms ofcontainers and for this container without the protective bag. It isequally apparent that the use of the fanning insert brings to thisrelatively inexpensive package a rigidity which satisfies the rigidrequirements for commercial dispensing.

It will be observed that no matter the form of the package, by the useof the fanning insert the contents of the container will be maintainedin a fanned condition enabling the sheet material to be dispensed onesheet at a time from the open end of the box with the utmost of accessibility and minimum of interference.

With reference to FIGURE 11 there is shown an embodiment where thefanning insert 60 is aflixed to the bottom 61 of the container 62. Inthis form the fanning insert 60 is precisely the same size as the sheetsto be dispensed from the container 62, and overlays the bottom 61thereof. It is transversely scored at 63 leaving a small tab 64 which isglued or otherwise secured to the interior of the bottom 61 adjacent oneend. Further inward it is scored laterally again but on the oppositesurface as at 65 to leave a panel portion 66. The width of panel 66 issuch that when the loose end 68 is pushed rearwardly so that the fanninginsert bends against the weakening of the scoring 63 and 65 to theportion shown in the full lines with the portion 67 lying against thetop 71, the angle 70 will be about It is apparent that in using the formshown in FIG- URE 11 where the fanning insert is secured to the interiorof the box or carton, the paper in the container must be removed, fannedand then reinserted in the box after the fanning insert 60 is pressed tothe operative position. The use of a protective envelope 34 for thesheets would obviously not bring about any change from the earlierdescription.

While several different styles of boxes and cartons have been described,the invention in all of its facets is equally applicable regardless ofsize, shape or materials.

It is to be understood that the container of FIGURES 9 and 10 may betightly wrapped and sealed with a plastic wrapper at the factory in theconventional manner. This prevents the contents from becoming lost ordamaged by sliding out the open ends during the handling from factory toconsumer and from the infiltration of dust, dirt and other contaminants.Because of flat folding of such a container it may be printed uponbefore being stuffed and wrapped. Also, since a paper skin is notrequired for such a container the cost of producing is less than othertypes. The use of a transparent plastic wrapping has the advantage ofeither making the printing on the container visible or providing anothersurface for decoration or printing.

I claim:

1. In a package for dispensing sheet material one sheet at a time aconventional rectangular glued sleeve container having top and bottompanels, relatively shallow side panels, and both ends open, a dispensingmeans within said container comprising a sheet transversely divided intoa base portion and a tab portion hinged to said base with theterminating end edge of the tab portion bearing against the inner faceof said top panel forming an acute angle of substantially 15, and sheetmaterial in fanned disposition within said package with one fanned endof said sheet material abutting and retained by the angled tab portionwithin said sleeve and the other end extending beyond the open end ofthe sleeve container.

2. The conventional sleeve container of claim 1 wherein the sheetmaterial is contained within and dispensed from a protective envelope infanned disposition, said envelope projecting beyond an open end of saidcontainer, said envelope having a transverse opening for the dispensingof the fanned contents, formed with two opposed lips extending wellbeyond the most extended top sheet projecting from the container and thelower of said transverse lips having a weight aflixed thereto.

3. In a package for dispensing sheet material one sheet at a timecomprising a container having a top and bottom portion, relativelyshallow side walls, and a fanning retaining member overlaying the innerbottom of said package said fanning retaining member being scoredtransversely on opposite sides at two spaced intervals, one adjacent theinner end thereof providing a small tab and the other inwardly thereofto form a larger panel portion, with the tab portion being secured tothe bottom of the container.

4. An end opening container for dispensing sheet material one sheet at atime in combination a container having relatively rigid top and bottomportions substantially the same size as the sheet material therein andrelatively narrow side walls, a dispensing means within said containercomprising a sheet transversely divided into a base portion and a tabportion hinged to said base with the terminating end edge of said tabportion bearing against the inner face of said container top portion andforming an acute angle of substantially 15, sheet material in fanneddisposition within said container with one fanned end of said sheetmaterial abutting and retained by the angled tab portion within saidcontainer and the other end extending beyond the open end of the saidcontainer, and a relatively flat bag containing said dispenser and saidsheet material in said container without exposure of the contents, saidbag having an opening at the 7 dispensing end defined by a pair oftransverse lips and a weight afiixed to the lower of said lips toprovide a closure by folding the lips upwardly and back upon themselvesso that gravity acting on the weight will hold the closure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,071,679 8/1913Silvertrust 206-57 1,101,907 6/1914 Cummings 206-57 1,129,276 2/1915Cohn 206-57 1,714,314 5/1929 Neidich 206-57 1,769,719 7/1930 Smith206-57 1,803,736 5/1931 8 Taylor 206-57 X Huggins 206-57 Gianninoto206-62 Mulford.

Turner 229-7 Manizza 206-57 Conell.

Hagar 206-45.33 Hernberg 206-57 Tindall 206-45.33 X

Bowman 206-45.33

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

Sinclair 2015-57 15 THERON E. CONDON, Examiner.

4. AN END OPENING CONTAINER FOR DISPENSING SHEET MATERIAL ONE SHEET AT A TIME IN COMBINATION A CONTAINER HAVING RELATIVELY RIGID TOP AND BOTTOM PORTIONS SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME SIZE AS THE SHEET MATERIAL THEREIN AND RELATIVELY NARROW SIDE WALLS, A DISPENSING MEANS WITHIN SAID CONTAINER COMPRISING A SHEET TRANSVERSELY DIVIDED INTO A BASE PORTION AND A TAB PORTION HINGED TO SAID BASE WITH THE TERMINATING END EDGE OF SAID TAB PORTION BEARING AGAINST THE INNER FACE OF SAID CONTAINER TOP PORTION AND FORMING AN ACUTE ANGLE OF SUBSTANTIALLY 15*, SHEET MATERIAL IN FANNED DISPOSITION WITHIN SAID CONTAINER WITH ONE FANNED END OF SAID SHEET MATERIAL ABUTTING AND RETAINED BY THE ANGLED TAB PORTION WITHIN SAID CONTAINER AND THE OTHER END EXTENDING BEYOND THE OPEN END OF THE SAID CONTAINER, AND A RELATIVELY FLAT BAG CONTAINING SAID DISPENSER AND SAID SHEET MATERIAL IN SAID CONTAINER WITHOUT EXPOSURE OF THE CONTENTS, SAID BAG HAVING AN OPENING AT THE DISPENSING END DEFINED BY A PAIR OF TRANSVERSE LIPS AND A WEIGHT AFFIXED TO THE LOWER OF SAID LIPS TO PROVIDE A CLOSURE BY FOLDING THE LIPS UPWARDLY AND BACK UPON THEMSELVES SO THAT GRAVITY ACTING ON THE WEIGHT WILL HOLD THE CLOSURE. 